Southern California is not New Orleans
Richard | 25.10.2007 16:45 | Analysis | Anti-racism
It is impossible not to notice the difference between the federal government and the Bush administrations response to the Southern California wildfires and their response to Katrina. They would have us believe that the explanation is simple; they have learned from their mistakes. But we know better: don't we?
The class and race discrimination becomes blatantly obvious when the mass exodus in southern California is compared to the similar situation in New Orleans. The Financial Times today described the victims as "evacuees" as opposed to "looters" which is what the residents of New Orleans were called.
And the situation in Qualcomm stadium (home to the San Diego Chargers)? It couldn't be better and in general the mood is "upbeat" writes the Times. "Food and medicine were in abundance, while evacuees could also relax with free yoga classes, meditation sessions and massages." In contrast to the New Orleans Superdome residents Qualcomm offers "play groups for children and kosher food."
"We feel a lot safer here than we did at home" says one stadium resident. If one feels a bit down, crisis counselors are there to help.
The news media have tried to establish the idea in our minds that the response to the crisis in Southern Cal is an improvement on New Orleans because the government has "learned" from its mistakes. We all make mistakes, the point is to learn from them. But the Southern Cal response is not about the federal government "learning" from its Katrina errors. There is no way this population will be abandoned like the poor people of New Orleans were. One of the reasons is that Katrina accomplished in one fell swoop what the real estate speculators and investors have been trying to do for a long time in New Orleans; drive out the poor.
It seems to me that overwhelmingly the victims of the wildfires in Southern California are middle and upper middle class folks and therefore are desired residents, they will get all the help they need. Thousands of Katrina victims will remain spread around the country or in shoddy trailers long after those that have survived these wildfires have re-established themselves.
This is not to say that there are not tragic consequences and sad losses due to this fire, not just life but generations of personal belongings; it's a terrible thing to go through and I wouldn't wish that on anyone (well, almost anyone).
But the obvious is...what would one say......obvious.
And the situation in Qualcomm stadium (home to the San Diego Chargers)? It couldn't be better and in general the mood is "upbeat" writes the Times. "Food and medicine were in abundance, while evacuees could also relax with free yoga classes, meditation sessions and massages." In contrast to the New Orleans Superdome residents Qualcomm offers "play groups for children and kosher food."
"We feel a lot safer here than we did at home" says one stadium resident. If one feels a bit down, crisis counselors are there to help.
The news media have tried to establish the idea in our minds that the response to the crisis in Southern Cal is an improvement on New Orleans because the government has "learned" from its mistakes. We all make mistakes, the point is to learn from them. But the Southern Cal response is not about the federal government "learning" from its Katrina errors. There is no way this population will be abandoned like the poor people of New Orleans were. One of the reasons is that Katrina accomplished in one fell swoop what the real estate speculators and investors have been trying to do for a long time in New Orleans; drive out the poor.
It seems to me that overwhelmingly the victims of the wildfires in Southern California are middle and upper middle class folks and therefore are desired residents, they will get all the help they need. Thousands of Katrina victims will remain spread around the country or in shoddy trailers long after those that have survived these wildfires have re-established themselves.
This is not to say that there are not tragic consequences and sad losses due to this fire, not just life but generations of personal belongings; it's a terrible thing to go through and I wouldn't wish that on anyone (well, almost anyone).
But the obvious is...what would one say......obvious.
Richard
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